Tuning gage for drums



Dec. 29, 1964 F. M. TOPERZER, JR

TUNING GAGE FOR DRUMS Filed Dec. '7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3a '14 1' $0o 38 as r 36 4% o O o '16 64 INVENTOR,

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BY imw x ATTORNEY 1964 F. M. TOPERZER, JR 3,163,075

TUNING GAGE FOR DRUMS Filed Dec. 7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,FAWN/(M Ta aezae; J2.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,163,075 Patented Dec. 29, 19643,163,075 TUNING GAGE FOR DRUMS Frank M. Toperzer, In, 7106 ClardenRoad, Bethesda 14, Md. Filed Dec. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 242,994 9 Claims.(Cl. 84-419) This invention relates generally to musical instruments,and more particularly to an improved tuning gauge mechanism for thetympani or velum of kettle drums.

The different tones of the tympanum are obtained by varying the drumhead tension through the medium of a foot pedal actuated drum headtension control mechanism.

The drum is generally tuned manually by hand operated drum head tensioncontrol means for orienting the control ring of the instrument.

The experienced musician plays the drum by operating a foot pedal,controlling tension variations on the drum head by means of a verticallydisplaceable head ring, and a considerable amount of skill andexperience is required in order to become proficient in playing drums ofthis character.

Additionally, although the musician tunes the instrument before acomposition is played, due to various reasons, temperature changes in anempty auditorium as compared with one that later fills, for example, thecompetent musician is constantly tuning or adjusting the drum headtension.

Tuning gages, per se, are not novel; see, for example, U.S. LettersPatent to William F. Ludwig, 2,568,504.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel tuninggage attachment for kettle drums which can be used to readily modifyexisting kettle drums or comprise initial equipment thereon.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel tuninggage attachment of the character mentioned, including means associatedwith the foot pedal control linkages whereby position changes of thehead tension control ring are directly reflected on a tone gage.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel tonegage or tuning indicator for tympanum in which means are provided toimmediately compensate for tension or tone changes in the tympani ofdrum head velum of the instrument to maintain a basic tuning note.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a noveltone or tuning gage which includes readily positionable note identifyingelements oriented with respect to an indicator moved in relation to headtension control mechanism.

Other and more specific objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the FIGURE 4 is an elevation takensubstantially from the plane of line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of theindicating portion of the tone gage showing the note identifying lugsand indicator alignable therewith;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE5; and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modification of thenovel tone gage.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIGURE 1, atympanum or kettle drum of any size or shape is indicated generally at10 and comprises a kettle 12 supported by a stand indicated generally at14 which includes a pedal control mechanism indicated generally at 16.

The pedal control mechanism 16 includes a vertically extending forcetransmitting rod 18 which projects through an aperture 20 in the base ofthe kettle 12. The rod 18 can be maintained in an adjusted verticalposition by means of a conventional brake mechanism 22, and a foot pedallever 24 is connected to the rod 18 by a suitable linkage 26.

The kettle 12 includes at the upper edge thereof an arcuate, inturnedconventional flange 28 upon which a drum skin 30 of natural or syntheticmaterial engages. The skin is mounted in a conventional flesh hoop 32and is engaged by an annularly flanged pressure ring or hoop 34.

The ring 34 has secured in circumferentially spaced relation a pluralityof vertically disposed, mounting brackets 36 which include a threadedsleeve receiving therein hand screws 38. The kettle 12 has securedthereon circumferentially spaced brackets 40 beneath each of the screws38 and upon which are pivotally mounted at 44 bellcrank levers 46. Thelevers 46 include a transverse shaft 45 into which the lower threadedends of the screws 38 engage and the levers 46 are pivotally connectedat 48 below the shaft 45 to the terminal ends 49 of radial rods 50, therods extending through suitable slots 52 in the kettle and beingconnected at their inner ends 54 to the force transmitting rod 18 by asuitable mounting hub 56.

In the absence of additional structure, tension on the drum skin isinitially adjusted by the hand screws 38 and is maintained by constantchecking and readjusting by the musician. The tone is changed byoperation of the foot pedal lever 24 and an adjusted position for aparticular tone is maintained by the brake mechanism 22.

The structure and operation just described is of a general character andis conventional, and will be readily recognized by those skilled in theart. However, it will be noted that the movement of the bellcranks 46are displaced angularly about the pivotal mountings 44 in directrelation to vertical movement of the rod 18 and radial rods 50.

A tone gage attachment is indicated generally at 58 and comprises asector plate 60 having an outwardly turned, arcuate flange 62 having anundercut lip portion 64. The plate 60 is mounted on the outer surface ofthe kettle 12 by means of a lower flange 66 and spaced sleeves andscrews 68 at the upper ends thereof.

Mounted on a transverse pivot shaft 70 coinciding with the radius ofsector plate 61) is an indicator lever 72 which includes a lateralpointed end 74 which overlies the flange 62 of the sector plate 60.

The undercut lip 64 of the sector plate flange 62 has displaceablyreceived thereon note indicating lug elements '76; see FIGURES 5 and 6,including a lock screw 78 extending through the lower edge thereof andengageable with the undersurface of lip 64 to retain the lug elements ina predetermined position. The lug elements 76 may include on the uppersurface thereof letters 80 indicating different notes and differentcolors may be used to permit ready recognition by the musician whenadjusting different head tensions for different tones or notes during anarrangement. An indicating line 82 may also be provided on the note lugs74.

The sector plate will be mounted in the position most convenient on thekettle, i.e.,- so it can be observed with a minimum of head turning withrespect to his music stand and the conductor. p

The most convenient bellcrank 46 will have pivotally mounted at one sidethereof at 84 an elongated lever 86 which is pivotal about the pivot 44with the bellcrank 46 upon which it is mounted; see FIGURES 1 and 2.

The bellcrank 46 has extending laterally therefrom a mounting rod 88which includes an internally threaded transverse aperture adjustablyreceiving therein an abutment screw 90 which terminally engages thelever 86 at one side of the pivot 84. The screw 90 includes an enlargedhead 92; see FIGURE 4, to permit ready manual rotation.

The other end of lever 86 is apertured at 4, and has hired thereto oneend of a flexible cable 96 which extends laterally through a slot 98 inthe kettle 12; see FIGURES 3 and 4. The kettle has mounted on the innersurface thereof a bracket element 109 which includes an idler sheave 102over which the cable 96 is entrained; the sheave facilitating changingdirection of the cable.

The shaft 70 has fixed on the end Within the kettle 12 a diametricallydisposed lever 164 apertured at 1% and having the other end of the cable96 anchored thereat. The lever 104 is apertured at 108 at the endopposite aperture 106 and has secured thereat one end of a tensionspring 110, the other end of the spring being conveniently secured to ananchor screw 112 of the bracket Operation The spring 1 10 normally urgesthe lever 164 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 3, or towardthe left hand portion of the sector plate 60 when looking at FIG- URE 2.When the head tension is initially adjusted, i.e., a reference note isdetermined and a note lug oriented accordingly, the spring 110 will beplaced under sufficient tension to move the indicator lever 72 throughthe entire angular range of the plate flange 62. Other notes of a scaleare determined and corresponding lug elements 76 are positionedaccordingly. The position of the pedal lever 24 will be such to obtainthe desired head tension through the entire scale, and as the rod 18 israised or lowered, the be'llcranks 46 will be pivoted to causecorresponding movement to the bellcrank 46 upon which the lever 86 ismounted.

In the event the drum head stretches or expands due to temperature orhumidity changes, for example, the screw 92 will be rotated, thiscausing the lever 86 to pivot independently on the bellcrank 46,accordingly causing movement of the lever 72 to pivot on shaft 70 andcausing realignment of the indicator portion 74 thereof with respect otthe previously positioned note lugs 76.

It will be observed that although drum head expansion has occurred,which accordingly causes tone changes, this can be readily compensatedfor on the tone gage without any complicated changes and returning bymeans of screw 38. With the note lugs properly oriented, the kettle drumcan be actually played, i.e., each note can be selected immediately,expeditiously and accurately.

Considering FIGURE 7, a slightly modified embodiment of the tone gageattachment is indicated generally at 58, and reference characterssimilar to those previously used identify similar parts, and similarprimed reference numerals are used to identify similarly functioningparts.

The kettle 12 has mounted thereon on the exterior thereof a sector plate60" including an upper flange 62' upon which note indicating lugelements 76 are adjustably mounted. The plate 60' is mounted on theexterior of the kettle 12 by upper spacer sleeves and screws 68, and alower screw 68' and shaft 70'.

Pivotally mounted on shaft 70' is an indicator lever the pper endportion of which (not shown) com- 4 prising a lateral pointed endoverlying flange 62 and alignable With note lug elements '76 as in thepreviously described embodiment.

The bellcrank 46 has pivotally mounted at 84' one end of a lever 86',the other end of the lever being apertured at 94' and having anchoredthereto a flexible cable 96. The kettle 12 has fixed to the outersurface thereof a mounting bracket 1% including a sheave 102' aroundwhich the cable 96 is entrained. The cable 96' is an chored at 106 tothe lower end of lever 72'. The lever 72' includes a second aperture 108to which one end of a tension spring 110 is anchored, the other end ofthe spring being conveniently anchored beneath one of the sleeves andscrews 68 at the right hand side of FIG- URE 7. p

The lever 86 includes a projection 88 thereon through which anadjustable abutment screw extends, the lower end of the screw 90 beingengaged with a lateral flange 46 integral with the bellcrank.

The screw 90' may be rotated to move the lever 86 about the pivot 84- toadjust the indicator lever 72' with respect to the note lugs 76 as inthe previously described embodiment.

Each of the described embodiments provide accuracy not heretoforeobtained in previous tone gages, i.e., via adjusting screws 90, 90' andlevers 86, 86', providing means for accurately compensating for tonechanges after the drum has been tuned, provide means for readilyadjusting the drum head tension and locating note lugs in relation to adesired scale, and provide means whereby the movement of the noteindicator is in direct relation to the movement of the head ringcontrolling bellcranks which effect difi erent tone changes of the drum.

Although one type of radial force transmitting rod 50 is disclosed inthe exemplary embodiment, the novel tuning gage is equally adapted foruse on drums in which the rods 59 or the equivalent thereof extendexteriorly of the kettle.

Further, the use of the term bellcrank is to be considered in itsbroadest context, and it is intended that this term be considered to bethe equivalent of other types of lever means affording a similar orequivalent function.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made Without departing from the spirit of the invention and,therefore, the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawingsand described in the specification, but only as indicated in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tone indicating attachment for use on an adjustable drum head ringfor tensioning a drum head, comprising in combination pivotal levermeans manually movable to cause drum head ring movement, said pivotallever means comprising at least one vertically pivotal bell crankelement, a sector plate having an upper, arcuate edge, note-idicia meanson the upper arcuate edge of said sector plate, an indicator leverpivotally mounted on said sector plate and including an indicatingportion aligned with the not'e-indicia means on the upper edge thereof,the improvement comprising force transmitting means connected betweensaid bell crank element and said indicator lever for moving the same inrelation to the movement of said pivotal bell crank element, said bellcrank element including thereon independently-adjustable lever means,said independently-adjustable lever means being connected between saidbell crank element and said force transmitting means for adjusting saidindicator lever with respect to said sector plate edge independently ofmovement of said bell crank element.

2. The structure of claim 1 including spring means connected to saidindicator lever urging it through the arc defined by the arcuate edge ofsaid sector plate.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said force transmitting meanscomprises a flexible cable connected between said pivotal lever meansand eccentrically of the pivot axis of said indicator lever.

4. The structure of claim 3 including spring means connected to saidindicator lever in opposition to force applied by said flexible cable.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said independently adjustable levermeans is pivotally mounted on said pivotal bell crank element andcomprises a manually adjustable abutment screw for orienting saidindependentlyadjustable lever means to a predetermined position withrespect to said bell crank element.

6. In a drum including an adjustable head, adjustable lever meansoperatively connected to said head and comprising a plurality ofvertically pivotal bell crank elements, the improvement comprising atone gage including a sector plate mounted on said drum, said plateincluding a tone indicating means along an arc concentric to the axisthereof, an indicator pivoted on the radius of said plate and includinga pointer portion alignable with said tone indicating means, a levermounted on one of said bell crank elements for simultaneous movementtherewith, and a force transmitting element extending between said onebell crank element and said indicator lever for pivoting said leveralong said sector plate edge in relation to pivoting of said one bellcrank element.

7. The structure of claim 6 including an independent lever pivoted onsaid one bell crank element, and adjustable abutment rneans engaged withsaid independent lever for orienting the same with respect to said onebell crank element, said force transmitting element being connected tosaid independent lever and said indicator lever.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said force transmitting elementcomprises a flexible cable.

9. The structure of claim 6 including a spring operatively connected tosaid indicator lever and normally urging said lever toward one end ofthe arc of said se'ctor plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,568,504 Ludwig Sept. 18, 1951

1. A TONE INDICATING ATTACHMENT FOR USE ON AN ADJUSTABLE DRUM HEAD RINGFOR TENSIONING A DRUM HEAD, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION PIVOTAL LEVERMEANS MANUALLY MOVABLE TO CAUSE DRUM HEAD RING MOVEMENT, SAID PIVOTALLEVER MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE VERTICALLY PIVOTAL BELL CRANKELEMENT, A SECTOR PLATE HAVING AN UPPER, ARCUATE EDGE, NOTE-INDICIAMEANS ON THE UPPER ARCUATE EDGE OF SAID SECTOR PLATE, AN INDICATOR LEVERPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SECTOR PLATE AND INCLUDING AN INDICATINGPORTION ALIGNED WITH THE NOTE-INDICIA MEANS ON THE UPPER EDGE THEREOF,THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING FORCE TRANSMITTING MEANS CONNECTED BETWEENSAID BELL CRANK ELEMENT AND SAID INDICATOR LEVER FOR MOVING THE SAME INRELATION TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID PIVOTAL BELL CRANK ELEMENT, SAID BELLCRANK ELEMENT INCLUDING THEREON INDEPENDENTLY-ADJUSTABLE LEVER MEANS,SAID INDEPENDENTLY-ADJUSTABLE LEVER MEANS BEING CONNECTED BETWEEN SAIDBELL CRANK ELEMENT AND SAID FORCE TRANSMITTING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAIDINDICATOR LEVER WITH RESPECT TO SAID SECTOR PLATE EDGE INDEPENDENTLY OFMOVEMENT OF SAID BELL CRANK ELEMENT.